Sam Darnold 'Glad' He Joined Vikings amid MVP Race, Calls O'Connell 'a Special Coach'

Some may label Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's aggressive calls as reckless, but to his players, they reflect a significant level of trust.

"(I'm) confirming to them that I believe in them," O'Connell said, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "I love them, and we're going to ride together, and we're going to stay aggressive while being smart."

No one believes this more than starting quarterback Sam Darnold in his first season with the Vikings.

After spending his first seven years in the league with three different teams, he feels that his spot on his fourth is special, especially as he is in talks for the MVP race.

"I love playing for Kevin," Darnold said, per Seifert. "He's been everything to me. He's helped me so much in my short time here. I'm glad I made the decision to come here. He's definitely a special coach."

Minnesota is currently 4-0, an impressive turnaround after the squad finished last season 7-10 and missing the playoffs.

Darnold is playing the best football of his career, currently boasting a 69 percent completion rate, accumulating over 930 yards and 11 touch downs over the team's first four games. He hasn't surpassed nine touchdowns in a season since 2019.

Darnold and the Vikings look to continue their quarterback's MVP candidacy in London on Oct. 6 against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.